Monday, February 27, 2006

Farewell Leilani Lanes

As many of you know, Drake Lelane is actually my nickname, but many aren't aware of it's origin. Years ago (what is it...seven now?) I chose the name 'Drake' as my karaoke (stage) name (at the Lani Kai Lounge, Leilani Lanes) in honor of "The Drake" from a classic Seinfeld episode ("The Labelmaker,") and also in reference to Spoon frontman Britt Daniels' solo name, Drake Tungsten. The last name (used only for bowling at the time,) was homage to the place the alias was born: Leilani Lanes. The moniker became my nickname following a spirited performance of "The Safety Dance" (at the aforementioned Lani Kai Lounge.) The (I assumed drunken) crowd started a "Drake" chant, and the rest is history.

Well, speaking of history, these beloved Leilani Lanes are soon to be history, following the sale to a developer who plans to level it and put in an apartment/retail structure. After 44 years (and famous Earl Anthony/Dick Weber bowling face-offs) Leilani is closing it's doors forever, and like any relationship, you have to make sure to say goodbye to them (before they say goodbye to you.) So Saturday night (babysitters in tow,) a bunch of us did our best to send Leilani Lanes off.

The drink of the night was the Pink Pussycat (gin, grapefruit juice, and a little extra 'meow') so I just had to start the evening off with a couple of them and the Tom Jones/Burt Bacharach classic "What's New Pussycat." There were only three notebooks (w/ song choices) available to peruse and the choices were much more limited then in the past, so it wasn't nearly as good as we remember it being - like where was my new fave "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"? and old standby "Rock the Casbah"? I ended up singing the former w/o the aid of Karaoke (and w/ the aid of much alcohol.)

Anyway, much fun was had - that is until morning, when Eli's 5AM wake-up call was very unsympathetic to the condition my condition was in.